Orlando Fernández

Fernández (birth name: Orlando Fernández De La Crúz[note 1]) was born in Santurce, a section of San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico. There he received his primary and secondary education. Fernández learned to swim when he was four years old at the swimming pools of El Escambron and Sheraton hotels in San Juan. He learned to surf by the age of ten. In 1991, he earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the Universidad Metropolitana (Metropolitan University) or "UMET" as it is commonly known by its initials.[1][2]

The Strait of Gibraltar as seen from space.
(North is to the left: The Iberian Peninsula is on the left and North Africa on the right).

The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow body of water that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Gibraltar and Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa.[3] Europe and Africa are separated by 7.7 nautical miles (14.3 km; 8.9 mi) of ocean at the strait's narrowest point. The Strait's depth ranges between 300 and 900 meters (160 and 490 fathoms; 980 and 2,950 ft)[4] which possibly interacted with the lower mean sea level of the last major glaciation 20,000 years ago[5] when the level of the sea is believed to have been lower than the present level by 110–120 m (60–66 fathoms; 360–390 ft).[6]

Fernández was inspired and motivated to represent his country in international swimming events by his long-distance swimming coach Marcos Díaz, a native of the Dominican Republic. Fernández holds various records in long distance swimming, among them the long swimming records of 20 kilometers at Key West, Florida, and 25 kilometers in Indiana. When he decided to attempt the crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar, he requested and received the help and training of Pedro Díaz. Díaz coached Fernández on the physical training required before and after the crossing of the strait.[1][2]

On May 19, 2011, Fernández departed from Cadiz, Spain, and swam the Strait for three hours and 57 minutes covering a distance of 18 kilometers in 65° Fahrenheit waters. He reached Point Cires, Morocco, accomplishing his lifelong dream and becoming the first Puerto Rican ever to do so.[7][8]

On September 4, 2011, the city of Ponce in Puerto Rico dedicated its 30th annual Bahía de Ponce[9] international swimming competition, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahía de Ponce, to Fernández in recognition of his accomplishments. The dedication took place at the Parque Enrique González (also known as the Malecón) in Playa de Ponce.[1][2]

Fernández currently resides in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Among other sports he practices are kayaking (of which he also an instructor), spinning, paddleboarding and surfing. He also serves as a motivational speaker at public schools and private enterprises. Fernandez plans on swimming from Vieques to Palmas del Mar in Humacao, in a benefit drive to help the Children with Cancer Foundation.[1][2]

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• Sports in Puerto Rico